Dr K M Hassan is an expert in Stroke thrombolysis & Stroke care, Botox therapy, Treatment of Complex neurological disorders.
Stroke is a potentially life-threatening event in which part of brain is deprived of adequate oxygen and energy. Stroke may be Ischemic (clotting) or haemorrhagic. Nearly 80 percent of strokes are ischemic.
Common risk factors for stroke are hypertension, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, physical inactivity and obesity. In a research work published in 2013 in Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology, Dr K M Hassan found smoking and alcohol as important causes of stroke in men younger than 50 years.
When you suspect stroke, THINK FAST and ACT FAST.
Face Arm Speech Time (FAST) tool quickly helps recognize stroke.
F = Facial drooping A = Arm weakness S = Speech slurring T = Time since onset
Treatment is race against time. Get to hospital immediately. Window of opportunity for salvaging dying brain tissue by clotbusting treatment is first 4.5 hours since onset of stroke. Personal experience with timely clotbusting treatment has been very gratifying.
Clotbusting treatment of stroke is underutilized due to lack of public awareness of warning symptoms and delay in transportation. In a collaborative study in 2012 from Kolkata (unpublished data), Dr K M Hassan found less than 2% of strokes reported to hospital in first 4.5 hours.
Jaypee Hospital, Noida aims to obviate delay in stroke thrombolysis by increasing awareness of stroke recognition at community level and fast tracking the evacuation and management at hospital level.
